Anyone who reads more than one or two of the above case results will quickly realize that a ticket for public urination does not result in having to register as a sex offender and jail is not a consequence.

However, the penalties for public urination are no longer a $50 slap on the wrist and an infraction.While Hermosa Beach takes the most aggressive approach to this offense, other cities do, too.Most commonly, the ticket for a misdemeanor violation of Penal Code § 372 (“Public Nuisance”) or a city’s municipal code for “public excretion” can be reduced to an infraction, but not for a token fine.

Moreover, the availability of Assembly Bill 2124 to provide judicial diversion under Penal Code §§ 1001.94 to 1001.98 is not dampening the harsh fines and fees that prosecutors insist upon, especially in Hermosa Beach, where such cases are now handled by the Redondo Beach City Prosecutors.

It has been explained to our office that the reason public urination cases are handled with such a heavy fine in Hermosa Beach is because there is a city ordinance that prohibits restaurant owners and bar owners from using water to clean up the area outside their establishments.The intent of such an ordinance is to prevent pollution of the ocean with urine.

Instead, such merchants are apparently supposed to use towels and sponges to remove the urine and this is not only expensive, but time consuming and smelly.The solution is to try to rid Hermosa Beach of all public urination cases, which we think is rather hopeless because so many of our clients are tourists who will never return to Hermosa Beach.

We think the solution to such a problem is for the City of Hermosa Beach to improve its lighting of the public restrooms near the foot of the Pier and to install more signs giving directions to such signs.We also think it would be a good idea to install a well-lighted, public restroom in both of the two major parking lots in the downtown Hermosa Beach Pier Plaza area.

A few common factual scenarios seem to repeat themselves in such cases.Usually, the ticket is issued after midnight and usually, alcohol is consumed by our client prior to receiving his or her ticket.The client usually has no idea that anyone is watching, but may attempt to hide the act of urinating out of modesty.

Sometimes, an overzealous police officer will insist our client is urinating or that he saw our client urinating when in fact, our client was simply pulling a cell phone out of his pocket or extracting his or her keys from his pocket.

Usually, this is not the case.Usually, the client apologizes to the officer and does not contest the ticket at all.In Hermosa Beach, such tickets are often issued in the ground-level parking lot south of the Pier Plaza area (commonly near the north-east corner by the taxi stop and behind American Junkie and the liquor store and Baja Sharkeez).Clients also often receive tickets in the alleys off Pier Plaza (especially near the Mermaid and Hennessey’s), in the concrete, three story, new parking structure to the north of Pier Plaza and in the north-south alley behind Rock Sushi and Zane’s.

In Manhattan Beach, many tickets are issued behind the Kettle, near the concrete parking structure.

In Long Beach, the most common areas are in the parking structure off Pine Avenue.

Thank you so much for putting so much effort in this case. We really appreciate it and we are happy that all turned out well. S.A., Torrance

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Greg Hill did an outstanding job on every level. He was efficient, thorough, knowledgeable, courteous, responsive & brilliant. He welcomed my input and my concerns. . . from the first conversation to the last - I always felt 'it mattered' to him. S.C., Rolling Hills Estates

★★★★★

Thanks again for your hard work. We want you to know that we are very appreciative of all that you have done [on our son's] behalf. With warmest regards, L.H., Torrance

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Dear Greg, Thank you again for all your help. Your professionalism and thoroughness is greatly admired. I will definitely recommend you to my friends if they ever need legal help. V.L., Carson

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Thanks for investing in my case. I talked to other attorneys out there and they had an arms-length of attitude, but not you. Your intensity and interest helped a lot. C.R., Pomona